Part 2: Bad Landlord's Manifesto

Have the bells started ringing yet? Have you had a bad landlord experience? During my trials and tribulations, I bitched and moaned to all my friends. More often than not, their eyes would glaze over while they politely feigned interest. Did the same happen to you?

But my friends did share a few stories. One friend told me about the time she had a peeking tom for a landlord. He used to peek in her windows at night after she came home from work.
Another friend told me about the time he moved into a house which had a very, very bad mould problem. The landlord had inserted a non-standard clause making mould removal the tenant’s responsibility. The tenants didn’t realise until after they moved in and signed the lease. And then another friend told me a story about the time she lived at university. There were loads of issues, but one issue in particular was a significant rent increase. Most of the students relied on Centrelink payments like youth allowance. The students did not have any recourse because they were not covered under the relevant tenancy law.

A landlord and tenant relationship is not equal. When there is no equality, an imbalance of power exists. Landlords usually have access to things like information, expertise, money. Think Karl Marx if you have heard of him.

Tenancy laws seem to be seriously biased in favour of landlords. Landlord lobby groups seem to be more successful than tenancy services. This seems to be a question of funding. And why are tenancy services poorly funded? Well I suppose this kind of thing isn’t important to governments.

Housing and security is right up there on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The stress, the tension, the anger, the anxiety all come from our need for a safe, stable, happy home. To most landlords, a rental property is just a safe investment. But to tenants, a rental property is a home and all that entails. A home means many things to many people, but to me it was a haven from the outside world and all it entailed.

I want to make one more point – not all landlords are bad. But my focus is bad landlords because I don't think the law sufficiently protect tenants.

The important thing is to remain calm, support each other and keep our good humour. If you are having a rough time, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Part 1: Bad Landlord's Manifesto

To be honest, I am not quite sure how to write my first blog. But I've had a few wines...and now I'm feeling quite ready!

I've started this blog because I had a bad landlord experience. I had finished university and had moved into my first flat. I loved this flat, it was my first real home. My first landlord was wonderful. She really gave me a chance when she let me move in. But then...duh duh...she sold the flat to someone else. And then I was paying for repairs, improvements, etc. Things came to a head, when I requested that the new landlord implement a safety measure. I had had enough. Despite months of waiting, and numerous written requests, the landlord just refused to pay for a shower hop. The water flooded the bathroom everytime I had a shower, and one time I had slipped and hurt my back quite badly.

So I did the right thing and I submitted an application to tribunal. I had a whole list of things that needed to be fixed. The tribunal found in my favour and I received a small amount in compensation. And why should someone have to take a landlord to tribunal for things like fixing a freaking leaking shower head (and by the way I'm a girl, I don't know how to fix things like that). I was so happy.

But then a week later, I received a letter in the mail. The landlord had decided to evict me. I could not believe it. I had a few weeks to find a new place. I had to come up with the money to pay for removalists. I had to come up with the money for the bond and rent in advance. And I had to find the right place at the right rent for me. The landlord also fired the real estate agency, and decided to hire another agency. Later I found out that the landlord had quite a reputation, and had gone through numerous real estate agencies.

So I decided to go to tribunal again and request compensation. I was so nervous. The right words just wouldn't come out of my mouth. And the tribunal member decided in favour of the landlord. He also chucked in an order that I leave the premises clean and tidy. I was frothing at the mouth, I was so mad. I thought about appealing the tribunal's decision, but decided it was not worth the time and hassle.

After I moved out, I found out that the landlord installed a wall to make a second bedroom, instead of putting in a simple shower hop. Of course, this was so she could put the rent up, by renting to two people and not just one person. But to add salt to the wound, the landlord claimed the bond to pay for things that would ordinarily be considered wear and tear.

I just gave up, I wasn't going to fight anymore. I left it for another day...and that day is today.